" I think journalism is quite a snobby professionalism because it’s a craft and an art form and you have to have been doing it for a long time and doing the credible journalism to be accepted.”
Robinson says the bar was equally high for sports commentators.
“Because I was a bit different, my credibility was questioned, despite the fact I had the journalism background, the playing background and I was doing a good job on air, so that was probably the biggest challenge I had.”
While Robinson believes the New Zealand sports media is doing a good job these days when it comes to female representation, she says those watching and listening aren’t always as supportive.
" I don’t think the audiences are particularly friendly and nice about many of the female sport commentators yet, there’s still a lot of evidence that there’s negative comments."
Resilience has become the backbone of Robinson’s career. It’s a trait that’s proven especially important as she’s navigated difficult restructuring processes at TVNZ.
With the media landscape still under a lot of pressure, Robinson believes the best way to navigate the uncertainty is to accept it think a few steps ahead.
“ I think everybody just has to be of the mindset that we are in constant change now,” she says.
“There will be transformation, restructures, change for quite some time. So we’ve all got to get used to having a little bit of ambiguity around our jobs, our careers, and you should be making alternative plans.”
Listen to the full episode for more from Melodie Robinson on:
- Her complicated family background and early sports obsession
- The fight for resources in women’s rugby
- What it takes to break into sports media and stay there
Ask Me Anything is an NZ Herald podcast hosted by former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett. New episodes are available every Sunday.
You can follow the podcast at iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
